Court employee suspended after 'crimes against nature' arrest

Steve Whatley -- a Clerk of Criminal Court employee -- was suspended Wednesday night after Whatley was arrested for "crimes against nature." He was arrested Wednesday afternoon.

Times-Picayune archiveOrleans Parish Criminal District Court

"I am disappointed to learn about Whatley's arrest," said Arthur Morrell, the Clerk of Criminal Court who suspended the Elections Department worker. "But my office policy is clear -- no one with an arrest record or conviction can be employed by the clerk's office."

Whatley was hired by former Clerk of Criminal Court Kimberly Williamson Butler even though he had a previous conviction, according to the clerk's office.

He has worked in the Elections Department of the Clerk of Court since 2004. He has been responsible for ensuring that tables and chairs were properly set up at each polling place.

Whatley had always received favorable evaluations from his supervisors.

"I thought Whatley had turned his life around," Morrell said. "There was never one complaint against Whatley, prior to today."